John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN ANTI-EMPIRE
"There is no scientific consensus for a lockdown"
That is true, but the statement has no force in this matter.
First, what is a politician to do when numerous experts warn and recommend a strong initiative? Just ignore them and risk the political consequences?
But we can go further than that. Strong measures do seem to have been appropriate if you look at the disease levels in several different countries.
The US now has reached 1,200 deaths per day, largely owing to Trump's incompetence, unpreparedness, and delay.
Germany, Russia, and China have been extremely successful.
With large populations, it is often the case that you cannot take just fine-tuned measures.
Fine-tuned measures would be most desirable to a reasonable mind, but they cannot be effective with all the many unreasonable people in any large population.
And we have many fools and malicious people.
God, there are even reported incidents out there of people coughing into the faces of others for a laugh.
Humanity has at least as many unintelligent and mentally disturbed and reckless hormone-driven individuals as it has sensible people.
It is unfortunately the human condition.
We see strong restrictions in wars and disasters where martial law is often used.
Sweeping measures are needed to assure an effective level of compliance.
